I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain

Chapter 340

Kanto stepped slightly aside.

"Of course, Agent of the Saint," he replied smoothly.

As Miguel also stepped aside to clear the way, Ian walked between them. Kanto naturally fell beside him, speaking as they moved.

"The first request was to expand the ranks of the priesthood as much as possible."

"And you agreed?" Ian asked.

"Naturally. If the situation at the front has changed so drastically, now isn’t the time to conserve our forces. However, the sacred flames themselves will be sent directly from the temple to each fortress," Kanto explained.

Glancing briefly at Miguel, who was following a step behind, Ian commented, "So there’s a way to transport the flames directly."

"Yes. We found several small braziers that were crafted long ago. With the help of dwarf artisans, we’ve built carriages specifically for their transport. They should already be en route with the priesthood," Kanto replied.

Interesting.

"That’s good news. At least Lucy won’t have to march across the front," Ian said.

"Indeed. That would have been far too cruel. The Saintess was already concerned enough when she learned a new brazier was being built here," Kanto added, his gaze shifting ahead to the white flames that had come into view.

"The ritual is complex enough that it wouldn’t have been surprising if the next Saintess had once again sacrificed her blood as an offering."

"So she was more worried about that than the possibility of failure?" Ian asked.

"Of course. Those who serve the Goddess of the Flame must always maintain a balance between burning passion and destructive madness," Kanto said calmly, his tone steady as he turned his gaze back to Ian.

"To burn away life itself is to disrupt that balance. At first, it may seem like a minor transgression, but the line between what’s acceptable and what’s not becomes blurrier the more often it’s crossed."

And yet, knowing this, they...

Ian snorted inwardly. He knew all too well the choices these people ultimately made in the game’s timeline. Their actions spoke of desperation, but it didn’t make their decisions any less troubling.

"So when I saw the flames, I assumed the line had already been crossed again. But..." Kanto’s voice trailed off as he glanced back slightly.

"Neither of them said a word about it," he added.

Ian’s gaze instinctively followed his, landing on Miguel. The man clamped his mouth shut and shrugged as if to say he had no idea what Kanto was talking about. His eyes darted everywhere but toward Kanto, making it obvious he was playing dumb.

So they’re pretending ignorance, Ian thought, letting out a faint laugh through his nose before speaking.

"It’s true blood that was used," Ian said.

Miguel whipped around, wide-eyed, but Kanto merely nodded as though he had already suspected it.

Ian continued, "But it was my blood."

"... Pardon?" This time, it was Kanto’s turn to narrow his eyes. He turned to Ian, his voice cautious.

Kanto stepped slightly to the side, maintaining a composed demeanor.

"Indeed, Acting Saint. I understand you are not a follower of the Goddess of Flame, yet the next Saintess permitted this act?"

The tone of his question implied that this was an even greater issue.

So this is why everyone’s walking on eggshells.

Even as Ian thought that, he nonchalantly shrugged. "Permission? Hardly. I decided myself. This is my domain."

"Then it is not my place to raise an issue," Kanto acknowledged, narrowing his eyes as he regarded Ian more closely.

"However, Agent of the Saint," he continued, his voice calm but firm, "please ensure that the sacred flame does not grow accustomed to consuming blood. Without the proper rites, it cannot stoke the flame’s core further. Instead, it will pollute the sacred fire, potentially transforming it into an uncontrollable inferno that consumes everything in its path."

"I am well aware of the Blazing Goddess’s many epithets," Ian replied evenly. "I’ve already warned the people about it, so there’s no need for concern."

"Your reassurance is appreciated," Kanto replied, nodding slightly before glancing back briefly. "I had intended to report that the matter of blood offerings was kept secret from me..."

Turning his sharp gaze on Miguel, Kanto added, "But I will leave that detail buried."

"Uh... no... surely you’re not trying to kill me with just a glare, are you? Oh, dear..." Miguel stammered as he avoided Kanto’s piercing gaze. Then, with an exaggerated clearing of his throat, he quickly looked ahead.

"Ah, come to think of it, the prayer must be wrapping up around now, right? I’ll go wait and bring her over. You two can, uh, continue chatting here comfortably, yes? Just finish your talk!"

Without waiting for a response, Miguel shuffled away, his steps picking up speed until he was nearly jogging.

Is he really just going to run off like that? Is he really a priest?

Ian stifled a wry laugh and turned his gaze toward the brazier in the distance.

The white flames he had noticed earlier danced silently above it, their glow steady and serene. Beside the brazier, a set of stairs had been partially dismantled and reshaped into a modest altar.

Lucia kneeled atop it, her hood pulled low over her face, deeply engrossed in prayer. The scene was so familiar to the residents passing by that they barely spared it a glance, as though such sights had become part of their everyday lives.

"And the next request was about the crimson lightning," Kanto, who had been watching Miguel’s retreating figure, shifted his gaze without missing a beat, as though nothing had happened.

"A request for purification, I presume," Ian replied as he naturally turned toward the main road leading to his residence.

"Handling that immediately isn’t workable with the erosion looming. Instead, the Archduke and the Order have been notified, and the affected regions are to be designated as restricted zones. The procedures might already be completed by now."

"More restricted zones, then," Ian muttered, clicking his tongue softly.

While he had been touring Nor Lindor, the Black Wall had erupted twice more, with one of those events spawning additional bolts of crimson lightning. One strike had hit near the mountains, while another two landed in the autonomous territories. In time, those places would inevitably transform into demonic realms, their core consumed by chaos.

"This concludes the updates related to the requests," Kanto said, lowering his voice slightly. "Now, there’s a message from the Saintess herself, intended specifically for you."

Ian raised a brow, prompting Kanto to continue.

"She requests that once the front stabilizes, you visit the temple."

"Isn’t it a little early to be making such requests?" Ian replied, a wry smile curling one corner of his lips.

Kanto inclined his head calmly.

"We trust that you, Agent of the Saint, that you will successfully repel the invasion. By then, I imagine your sword will be complete as well."

Ian’s lips curved a little higher. "So, she’s asking me to wield it and purify the corrupted lands of the North, is that it?"

"Most likely. Even if the front stabilizes, there won’t be enough resources to deploy personnel to the corrupted lands for quite some time. This isn’t an issue limited to the North, so we can’t expect support from the mainland either."

"Well, it’s not impossible. Assuming, of course, the compensation is adequate."

At Ian’s blunt demand, Kanto lowered his gaze slightly, unperturbed. "Of course, Agent of the Saint. The Order will offer its full support."

He didn’t appear the least bit surprised. No doubt Lucia or Miguel had already briefed him about Ian’s straightforward nature—perhaps even Mev and Nasser as well.

"Then it’s settled." Ian gave a firm nod.

The quest window hadn’t appeared yet, likely because it required a meeting with the Saintess of the Brazier. It was probably a side quest exclusive to a Holy Knight or an Acolyte.

Whatever the case, there was no reason to refuse.

"And... she also asked me to entrust the next Saintess to your care, Agent of the Saint."

"... Lucy?" Ian’s smile stiffened.

Kanto nodded. "Yes. The next Saintess will accompany you to Karlingion."

"I doubt I’ll have the luxury of protecting Lucy while I fight this time."

"The next Saintess will not be at the front lines. She will remain within the fortress, tending the sacred flame and supporting the soldiers on the battlefield."

The crease in Ian’s brow didn’t disappear. Kanto, however, wasn’t finished.

"Additionally, both the next Saintess and Priest Miguel will be armed with weapons forged in the sacred flame. I personally ensured their delivery."

So they’re arming her for defense and keeping her in a support role.

As Ian mulled it over, Kanto continued, "The entire priesthood is heading to the front lines. As precious as the new flame is, it would be unfair to show undue favoritism. However, we can ensure she is sent to the safest position—a fortress protected by the Northern superhuman and the warriors who follow him. Of course..."

Kanto trailed off briefly, meeting Ian’s gaze directly. "I will accompany her. If, by any chance, something untoward occurs, I will protect the next Saintess... even at the cost of my life."

Kanto’s tone remained calm, his expression as cold and austere as ever. Yet, precisely because of that, his words carried a weight of sincerity.

I thought he seemed unfitting as a priest of the Blazing Goddess… but I misjudged him.

A faint smile tugged at Ian’s lips as he replied, "Make sure you keep that promise."

"I swear it, Agent of the Saint." Kanto’s lips curved into a faint smile as he bowed his head.

"Sir Ian!" Lucia’s voice rang out from behind, loud and clear, as though she was calling while running.

... So much for being composed.

Ian stifled a chuckle, but Kanto, as if he’d never smiled, quickly returned to his stern demeanor and turned to look.

Through the crowd, Lucia was weaving her way toward them at a brisk pace.

Kanto glanced at Ian. "Do you have pressing matters to discuss with the next Saintess?"

"Not particularly. Nothing urgent.."

"Then, may I take those two with me first? I need to prepare a report for the temple... and perhaps have another in-depth discussion about balance as well."

Doesn’t sound much like a discussion to me.

While Ian mused silently, he shrugged nonchalantly. "Do as you like."

"Thank you. I’ll take my leave now. Please, rest well." With a respectful nod, Kanto turned and walked away.

Lucia and Miguel halted almost simultaneously.

Miguel turned toward Ian, his expression a mix of exasperation and resignation. When Ian gave him a subtle nod toward Kanto, Miguel sighed heavily, his reluctance written all over his face.

Lucia, on the other hand, maintained her usual impassive demeanor, though she couldn’t entirely suppress the slight tension in her jaw.

Looking at them now, it feels like they’re the ones lacking discipline.

Ian snorted faintly in amusement before turning his attention forward. His house loomed closer, and the faint, unappealing aroma of food drifted out to greet him.

***

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

It feels like I only just took a breath...

Ian mechanically shoved the morning meal prepared by his young servant, Rigg, into his mouth. Each bite was accompanied by a sigh, as if swallowing could stave off the looming dread that crept closer with every thought of what lay ahead.

Even his high Mental Fortitude couldn’t erase the weight of the days to come. Memories of a simpler time—mundane routines spent dreading the weekdays and reveling in marathon gaming sessions over the weekends—were distant but achingly vivid.

This feels like the night before my second-year ranger training all over again...

Lost in thought, Ian’s eyes drifted toward Rigg, who stood dutifully beside the table. The boy’s face seemed unusually bright and clear, a far cry from the grime-streaked complexion he’d first sported.

"You’ve been bathing more often lately?" Ian asked suddenly.

Rigg blinked, then offered a shy smile. "Yes, Great Warrior. Seeing you bathe every day made me want to try it too."

It seemed he was embarrassed to admit he’d been copying Ian. Ian, suppressing a chuckle, tilted his chin.

"And how is it?"

"My skin doesn’t itch as much. And... I can smell things I didn’t notice before."

"You’re using the rock salt to clean your teeth, too?"

Rigg nodded enthusiastically.

Ian was just beginning to feel a small surge of pride when the boy added, almost as an afterthought, "Though some of my friends say it’s not very manly to bathe every day."

Ian’s gaze narrowed instantly. "Who said that?"

"My friends. They think it’s... not something warriors do."

"Tell them they’re wrong. There’s nothing more fitting for a warrior than washing off after a hard day’s work."

"Do you really think so?"

"Absolutely."

Rigg’s eyes lit up as he nodded, utterly convinced. Ian resumed his meal, unaware that he had just sown the seeds of a new cultural nor"m for the North.

The knock at the door came just a few minutes later.

"Sir Ian? Are you there?" It was Lucia’s voice.

What could she need at such a busy hour? Ian thought, puzzled, before calling out.

"Come in."

The door opened almost instantly.

"Hmm." Ian let out an inaudible sound of interest as he turned to see Lucia step inside.

Beneath her cloak, she was fully armored. Most of the gear she wore was unfamiliar to Ian, crafted to perfection. Layered leather reinforced with fine chain mail covered her frame, with lightweight but protective plates fastened over vital areas like her chest, shoulders, and joints. Intricate etchings of triangular symbols and prayer inscriptions adorned her breastplate, the emblem of Lu Entre prominently displayed.

It was unmistakable—this was the equipment Kanto had brought, forged and tempered in sacred fire.

"You’re already prepared to leave."

"I need to ascend the altar soon to offer another prayer. Once it’s done, I likely won’t have any time to spare," she explained.

Her face looked slightly pale and tired, likely a reflection of how busy the past two days had been for her. Ian himself had barely seen her for over thirty minutes in total over those two days.

"So, do you need me for the ritual?" Ian asked, rinsing his mouth with water.

Lucia shook her head. "No. I came to borrow your sword."

"...?"